Top 10 International Mainstream Artistes Of 2017

It’s that time of the year again. Yes, time for the highly anticipated end of the year lists. We will be releasing our ‘Top’ lists for 2017 as the month goes on to celebrate the various creatives who have stood out this year. Be sure to check them all out!

Year in and year out, you can always count on our music making friends in the abroad to bring the heat. They didn’t disappoint this year as we were blessed almost monthly, with real and true jams. These are the ten musicians who stood out to us this year. Did your favs make the list?

10. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift killing the old Taylor Swift was one of the best things about 2017 to be honest. Taylor Swift’s album ‘Reputation’ over a million copies in its first week. The album was released just in November and was already the top selling album in the US less than a week after its release, selling more than Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” in the US!

Her controversial lead single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ also broke the record of being the most streamed single in a day after its release! Her album debuted at number 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Surely, if this American sweet heart released her album earlier in the year, it would have sold more than another!

9. Justin Bieber

Some of you may be surprised to see this name here but think about it, should you be? The Canadian superstar remained relevant in the industry this year without releasing any of his own music. He sat on the top of the Billboard charts this year as a result of being part of two of the biggest songs of the year: DJ Khaled’s ‘I’m The One’ and Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’.

8. Future

The Atalanta based trapstar had a wonderful 2017, releasing two albums ‘HNDRXX’ and ‘FUTURE’. Both albums have been certified by the RIAA with ‘HNDRXX’ certified platinum and his self titled project, gold! He is the only artist to have back to back albums debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

7. DJ Khaled

Asahd’s old man had an all round good year. From becoming a dad to becoming the Snapchat king of the world and dropping star studded posse hits, Khaled Mohamed Khaled reigned supreme in 2017. His tenth studio album, ‘Grateful’, which he released this year debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum only three months after its release. The album featured: Future, Travis Scott, Rick Ross, Migos, Chance the Rapper, Nicki Minaj, Kodak Black, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Drake, Rihanna, Sizzla, Mavado, Nas, Calvin Harris, Betty Wright and many others. This is why it comes as no surprise that the album gave us two of the year’s biggest hits ‘I’m The One’ and ‘Wild Thoughts’.

6. The Chainsmokers

This electronic dance/pop duo were undoubtedly the duo to beat in 2017. The duo broke the record for the most hits on the Hot Dance/Electronic songs chart in 2017. They were also the most nominated acts in the 2017 Billboard Awards. We cannot wait to see what these guys are going to bring for us in 2018.

5. Camilla Cabello

When Cabello announced her departure from Fifth Harmony last year December, it did feel a little like we weren’t going to hear from her again. Boy, were we wrong! With the release of some perfectly orchestrated collaborations, a branding that is all it’s own, a sure fire singe and a number of stunning live performances, Cabello made 2017 her year. Her ear candy single, ‘Havana’, entered the top 5 spot in the US and number 1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland and the UK. What’s more? She bagged a number of coveted awards such as the MTV Europe Music Award, three I HeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and the Billboard Women in Music award for Breakthrough Artist.

4. Drake

Following the success of his last album ‘Views’, which got him a ton of awards, Drake kept his game on with the release of his mixtape ‘More Life’. All the tracks on the 22 track project charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. By April, he had 24 songs on the chart, breaking his own record for the most simultaneous hits on the chart.

3. Beyoncé

Much like J. Biebs, Iya Ibeji didn’t release any new music this year but she was still everywhere. From being the main theme of Jay Z’s ‘4:44’ to birthing twins, collaborating with DJ Khaled, Ed Sheeran and Eminem, you would only miss Mrs. Carter if you wanted to.

2. Kendrick Lamar

Without a doubt, Mr. Lamar was the biggest rap sensation of 2017. His hit single ‘Humble’, which is arguably the biggest rap single of the year, built a home on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lamar received seven nominations in various categories including ‘Artist of the year’ ahead of the 2018 Grammy Awards in New York. He also swept the 2017 MTV VMA’s, going home with 5 awards that night. The BET Hip Hop awards was not left out of the Lamar magic as he took away four awards including ‘Rapper of the year’.

1. Ed Sheeran

The talented British artiste obviously leads the list after the stellar performance of his third studio album ‘Divide’, which is the highest selling album of 2017. The album contains the international hit ‘Shape of You’ which is the now the most streamed song ever and also the highest selling single of 2017. He won ‘Artist of the Year’ at the 2017 MTV VMAs. He also topped the Billboard official 2017 Best Artist list. No wonder many eyebrows were raised after he wasn’t nominated in the ‘Artist of the Year’ category for the 2018 Grammy Awards.

What do you think of our list? Let us know in the comment section below?